We're sort of waiting to see what the weather turns out to be.  Yesterday was pretty warm, but not much sunshine; today is warmer and we've had some very welcome sunshine this morning, but now clouds are beginning to roll over us.  The forecast is for "snow showers" tonight, tomorrow and Thursday.  It's sure nice to have spring-like weather today, though.  The temperature is in the high 30's - might even have been in the 40's earlier - I was at Danville Health Center having a regular checkup  to be sure everything is running smoothly (everything is!), and had several errands to do at Larrabees, Hastings, Dane's Upholstery, etc., so I forgot to pay attention to the temperature.  I just enjoyed the mild weather.

I've had a communication from a woman in Kansas who is related to the Cabot Wheelers and to one of our WWII veterans, Leroy "Clare" Knapp, who was killed in action in June, 1944, as I recall.  She had a copy of a list of American soldiers from the "Wall of the Missing" in Rome, Italy, with his name.  The records there were apparently not updated, for shortly after he was reported missing, his family in Cabot, Neil Knapp and sisters, Lois Knapp Paquin and Alta Knapp, (his mother, Susie (Stone) Knapp had passed away in 1935) received word he had been killed on June 2, 1944.  I believe Clare Knapp was the second soldier killed during that war.  Our neighbors' son, Ernest Maynard, a marine, was the first, killed in Europe in March, 1943.  Two others were killed, Arthur Bartlett in June, 1942, and Oliver Wheeler, in 1945.

I've always been impressed that the small town of Cabot, population about 1,000 at that time, sent more than 100 men and women to the service during WWII.  That seems like a lot, but other towns in Vermont had many young men and women serving their country, as well.  There are lots of stories and quotes about Cabot's servicemen and women in the book, "Cabot, Vermont - A Collection of Memories From The Century Past," published in 1999, and we have lots of information on file at the Cabot Historical Society.  We pulled information from the monthly newsletters called  "CONTACT" which were put together by the Rev. E. H. Nickerson and a staff of volunteers who faithfully typed, copied and mailed them to everyone in the service from Cabot and some from surrounding towns.  The community sponsored the project, with families contributing money for postage and supplies.  

A couple weeks ago I was able to purchase for the Historical Society a ribbon from the Cabot Grange.  I will try to research when the Grange was flourishing in Cabot - I don't think we have much information on that - but in the meantime, I contacted the seller who was in Kansas, asking her how she came to have the ribbon.  She wrote back that she didn't have any record of where it came from or from whom, so that's a dead end.  It's strange how things show  up like that every now and then.  We like to find them and bring them "home" whenever possible.  This ribbon is a nice addition to our display of memorabilia from various clubs and organizations in town.

I learned today of the sudden death of Russel Langfield (135 Pt. Comfort Rd.) in January.  His nephew, Dana Turner, told me this morning he had fallen and hit his head, and died in hospital.  We are so sorry this happened.  Russell and his wife, Mary, purchased one of the condos at Point Comfort a few years ago.  Our sincere condolences to his wife, Mary and family.