Great-Granddad

"It is well that war is so terrible, or we would grow too fond of it."
  ~~Robert E. Lee

My husband is from Pennsylvania and both his maternal and paternal great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War. As we were packing up my mother-in-law's belongings helping her move from her  home in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, we found an old box with a hat inside. Lifting the lid, we discovered it was the cap from the uniform of the Civil War veteran's organization, the Grand Army of the Republic. A scrolled document confirmed it belonged to John I. Sims, my father-in-law's grandfather. My sister-in-law thought I should take it since I taught American history and have always been interested in "The War Between the States". I took the box and the hat home, and I kept it safe in my cedar chest for many years. 

Then one Memorial Day, I needed a picture. I thought of the scrolled document and the hat, and took out the box. As I carefully lifted out the hat, I found another hat tucked inside. It was John Sim's uniform cap and was in perfect condition having been stored safely inside for more than 100 years.

I packed up both hats and the documents this week. They have a new home with my niece and her son. Alex who is fascinated by anything military. He doesn't know it's going to arrive, and she promised to take pictures when he opens the box. I hope to share...

~Aunt Nancy ~ 84/365