Mary Zalesny Mulligan, 1914-2009

Today is the 7th of December. That means it's Pearl Harbour Day, and 18 days to Christmas Day, and my grandmother's birthday.

Recently, Grams went to be with her Saviour (and mine! - so I rejoice that I will see her again soon). I was in the States to attend her memorial service, and I'd like to honour her by sharing a few photographs with you of this amazing woman.

(Naturally, I didn't take any of these, except the last one!)

She was an airline stewardess...


...a beautiful airline stewardess!!...(this is the photo she sent my grandfather while they were writing letters. Needless to say, he sent back a wedding ring.)


She was a nurse...
...the wife of another amazing person, the irrepressible Bill Mulligan...

...and an example and encouragement to me.


I am missing her today.

Mary Zalesny Mulligan - 7 December 1914 to 2 October 2009

God Bless America

Well, it’s coming close to the American Thanksgiving holiday, which (although I reside under the reign of the country from which my ancestors sailed away), I still celebrate.


So here is my tribute to the flag of that country, and my thanks for those who sacrificed their lives for what it represents.

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light…

…what so proudly we hailed...

...at the twilight’s last gleaming…

…whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight…


…O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming…

…And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there…


..O say does that star spangled banner yet wave…


…O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”


Happy Thanksgiving!

Karen