Flowers for Mother’s Day

What mother wouldn’t enjoy getting a beautiful bouquet of cut flowers on Mother’s Day. Especially if the flowers were from her son who was overseas, serving his country during World War II.

Flowers from Herb in Germany, May 1945.

Gertrude (Brewster) Miller holding flowers from her son Herb, stationed in Germany. May 1945, Mother’s Day.

It was 13 May 1945. Mother’s Day. Less than a week after V-E Day, which marked the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of fighting in Europe. Yes. There was a lot to celebrate.

Somehow my dad arranged for his mother to receive this large bouquet of flowers on Mother’s Day. Maybe one of his sisters cut them from the garden. No matter how she got the flowers, grandma certainly looks happy and proud. After all she had more than one reason to celebrate that day.

But the best and most important reason to celebrate was that the war was over and her son would be returning home soon.

Herb Miller, US Army, WWII.

Herb Miller, US Army, WWII.

Harry S. Truman issued a Mother’s Day Proclamation in April 1945: “…Whereas it is fitting that we acknowledge anew our gratitude, love, and devotion to the mothers of America… in this year of the war’s greatest intensity we are ever mindful of their splendid courage and steadfast loyalty to the highest ideals of our democracy…the service rendered the United States by the American mother as the greatest source of the country’s strength and inspiration…” [1]

Harry Truman’s words are still true and meaningful today, 70 years later.

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

[1] Harry S. Truman: “Proclamation 2649—Mother’s Day, 1945,” April 17, 1945, Online by Gerhard Peters and john T. Wooley, The American Presidency Project (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=87028 : accessed 7 May 2015).

2 comments

    • Mary Goodwin Haddad on May 10, 2015 at 6:46 pm
    • Reply

    Karen, your dad was so handsome, as I thought all the guys from Willshire were. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful tribute to your dad and grandma.

    1. I agree, he was handsome. Thanks for reading.

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