Dear Friends:

In my view, our 2nd dinner was a great success. If anyone didn't have a good time, I don't know about it.

Before I launch into this, I want to thank the one person who was NOT at the dinner but who did the MOST - - my husband, GENE FLUHARTY. He is the one who paid for our little dusters and big paper clips, the door prizes, the beverages, the extra side dish and the gratuity - - not to mention my Civil War collection, including Carlisle's medal. GENE, my husband of 30+ years, is truly the MOST wonderful person I know and he makes it possible for me to do all I do. He came home to stay with the dog so I could travel up to WV but then he had to go to England, where he will be spending a great deal of time in the future.

I would also like to thank JOEL ROBINSON who brought the beverages for me and then took photos for the Java slideshow that my husband set up for me.

And thanks to T. VERNON ANDERSON, aka TVA, who coordinated the dinner at the Bella Via and the Saturday and Sunday breakfasts. Vernon is extremely generous and very helpful to others.

Thanks also to JAMES DAGUE, DAVID AEBERLI & JOE FREY, whose contributions I will elaborate on further down.

I think the easiest way for me to do this is to start with Thursday, June 15, the morning after I arrived in West Virginia. WARNING: Many of you may find it boring.

My friend, LOIS EDISON, and I met at 8 am Thursday at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery and we were very pleased that we positively identified 2 Civil War graves and got at least the surname of a third (Criswell). They had been illegible when Lois read them earlier but this time we rubbed a piece of wet bark on the stones and the names came right out.

After Lois bought me DiCarlo's Pizza for lunch in Wheeling, Lois and I picked up PHYLLIS SLATER on Wheeling Island and we went to the Martins Ferry, Ohio Historical Society's SEDGWICK HOUSE MUSEUM, located at 627 Hanover Street in Martins Ferry. As you may know, I do a web page for the society. I saw my friend, MARY STALEY, there and met the Society President, BARBARA SHRODES, for the first time. It was a wonderful afternoon and was like being with people I had known forever.

I cannot state strongly enough that a visit to the SEDGWICK HOUSE MUSEUM is a MUST! The beautiful house was donated to the society and it is laden with fabulous historical items. I have never seen anything like it before and I was impressed beyond belief by the abundant collection and by the way the ladies in the society are working so hard to display the vast number of items, including 2 WEST VIRGINIA Civil War medals.

At this time, I will inject that I forgot to mention the Martins Ferry Historical Society and President, BARBARA SHRODES, in my welcoming remarks at the dinner Saturday night. I felt TERRIBLE about it but I did welcome my friends and CERTAINLY Mary and Barbara are in that category! We had a wonderful dinner at the Outback Steakhouse on Thursday.

After I returned to my room at Oglebay Park on Thursday evening, I had a message from CARLISLE BOWLING. I tried to call him but there was no answer at Reilly's Motel in Glen Dale. I was worried and decided to drive down to Glen Dale. The reason no one answered the phone is because a tornado had touched down and the phone and electric were not working. This was my FIRST time to meet Carlisle, although we have been best cyber friends for more than 3 years.

When my husband thought he was losing his job 2+ years ago, I was very down. At Christmas, the only thing I got was a Swarovski crystal from Carlisle. The next month when it was my 50th birthday and everyone forgot, the florist arrived with flowers, balloons and a Swarovski crystal from Carlisle. And Carlisle isn't rich or anything.... He is just very kind and sensitive and always tries to make people happy. Whenever I need someone to talk to, he is always there for me, despite his suffering with a multitude of health problems.

I digress!! Getting back to my story - - - I sat in Carlisle's dark room at Reilly's with CARLISLE and also BLAINE STANDIFORD and JOE FREY, neither of whom I had met before - but they were coming to the dinner on Saturday. Joe's wife, JUDY, works at Reilly's and he happened to be there. Blaine was staying at Reilly's. Blaine appeared to be in his sixties and I was quite shocked when he began talking about being in WWII. He is in his eighties!!!! (And he better stop and see me when he goes through Baton Rouge again!)

On Friday morning, I had breakfast at Oglebay with MAMIE LEGG and MAE CROW. I had met Mamie at the dinner last year and she recently reunited me with Mae, who is someone I was very close to until I got married and moved to Pittsburgh in 1970. Mae lived next door to me on Boggs Run for many years and her late husband, Don, was my dad's lifelong best friend. Mae and my mom made rag rugs together! I must add that Mamie, a Charter Member of the Marshall County Historical Society, is a treasure - a really extraordinary person - - honest, sincere and caring. I feel very fortunate to have spent time with Mamie and Mae.

I checked out of Oglebay because I could only get 2 nights there and I headed to Glen Dale. I took Carlisle around the area, which he had never visited before. We spent the afternoon at the WHEELING ROOM at the Ohio County Library. We enjoyed seeing Phyllis and Mary and also meeting some people, like DON FORDYCE and HARRY & BOBBI STEELE, who were in town for our dinner. After that, it was time to get checked into the Hampton Inn and get ready for the Friday night dinner.

VERNON ANDERSON and most of the people were already at the Bella Via when I arrived. Most of them I was meeting for the first time. I sat with HARRY & BOBBI STEELE from Indianapolis (Nice people!) and DANIELE BOUGHER, who will be entering the LPN program at Reynolds Memorial Hospital in September. I had attended that nursing program after high school and I am very pleased that Daniele will be going there. She will be a wonderful nurse!

On Saturday morning, I attended the breakfast at The Guest House in Moundsville. It was a really good meal with the BEST bacon. Among those in attendance were HAZEL SPAHR, HELEN SHIPE and MYRTLE DUKE, sisters who live in PA. Unfortunately, Hazel, who is undergoing chemotherapy, had to be hospitalized just before the dinner.

After the Saturday breakfast, with the assistance of VERNON ANDERSON, I went to the old State Prison for the tour, conducted by JOE FREY, a former employee of the facility.

The prison tour was VERY interesting and FUN! Going in a group like that, with our own personal guide, was extra-special. JOE FREY later took a group to the McCreary Cemetery and I want to express my gratitude to him for all he did to make the activities such a success.

At the prison tour, I was privileged to meet CAROL HASSIG, the President of the Wetzel County Genealogical Society. She was not able to attend the dinner but she did come for the prison tour. She worked at the prison for about 5 years, I think she said.

Also during the prison tour, I had time to get acquainted with GEORGE & JANET JONES. They were at the dinner last year but I didn't get a chance to spend time with them. They are a delightful couple and I am still thinking about all of the interesting aspects of their lives they shared with me.

Immediately following the prison tour, I went to Bethlehem and met DAVID AEBERLI, the man who brought the Civil War collection to the dinner. His Civil War ancestor is buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery and we spent some time there.

Then it was time to get ready for THE dinner.

"Special Events" is a terrific place and FRED and MARY GAMES were wonderful to deal with. I had a number of special requests and they were very accomodating - - and the food was quite good. Fred served in the Korean War and Mary has a Civil War ancestor, so I hope they will contribute their information to the Marshall County page.

DAVID AEBERLI set up his marvelous Civil War display and I am sure it was enjoyed by all. Doing such a large display required considerable work and Dave's efforts are appreciated. He has roots in Marshall County so is now a member of our Virtual Genealogy Society.

CARLISLE BOWLING greeted everyone at the door and gave out the name tags I had made. I had hoped to be there to greet everyone but that didn't happen. I think I eventually did speak to everyone but not for as long as I would have liked.

At about 6 p.m. we enjoyed our buffet dinner and then started our program shortly after 7. JAMES EDWARD DAGUE did a wonderful job as the Master of Ceremonies and I think I will enlist him for next year if he will consider doing it again. KAREN HUCKO supports that idea! James has a real gift for public speaking and did spectacular introductions! THANKS, JAMES, FOR A JOB WELL DONE!

Our speakers were BARBARA BLAKE GODDARD, the d/o V. KAY MASON, T. VERNON ANDERSON, B. CARLISLE BOWLING, JAMES WILEY, ELIZABETH DAVIS SWIGER, DAVID AEBERLI and me.

BARBARA BLAKE GODDARD is new to genealogy and spoke about her perceptions thus far. During the past several months, Barbara has been transcribing the Washington District of the 1900 Marshall County Census for us.

VERNON talked about the Civil War Medals and said he has claimed 3 from the WV State Archives. He said there are 10 unclaimed medals from the 12th WV Infantry and offered his assistance to anyone who wanted to claim those medals. He wanted to say that his research has shifted from his own family to that of the Marshall County family, especially on the Civil War era. He also wanted to mention that he now has 41,382 individuals in his database.

CARLISLE spoke from his heart about his wonderful association with me and with the Marshall County Genealogy group, in general.

JIM spoke about the Civil War in the context of today, and on backroads and the kindness and friendliness of folks in West Virginia, a topic cut from an article on "Back Roads" for an upcoming issue of the e-zine, "Clever Magazine."

ELIZABETH gave a lovely presentation that gave insight into the life of Civil War soldier, Joshua Winters, about whom she wrote a book, based on his letters and diary. A number of people bought copies of Elizabeth's book after the program.

In addition to his Civil War display, DAVE spoke about how I contacted him online to ask about listing his WV Civil War medals on my medals page - - and about how that led to his discovery that I do the Marshall County page and my discovery that he has roots in Marshall County.

Finally, I spoke about my Civil War medals page and about my upcoming project about the 12th WV Infantry.

Back in January when I first thought about having this dinner, I had in mind the Civil War medals - but really just one specific Civil War medal. The first medal I bought had belonged to an Officer - - a First Lt. in the 15th WV Infantry.... And his name was William Calvin Batton. When I first bought this medal, I immediately began to do research about William and I must say that I was very relieved to find out that, although he was married, he had no children. Therefore I wouldn't encounter a descendant and feel guilty about having the medal.

And when I was first looking for a CW medal to buy, after I got the medal & when I was doing research on the soldier, I was communicating all of it to my friend CARLISLE BOWLING, of Florida, who has been doing research on his family for most of his life. One evening, not long after I got the medal, I received a message from Carlisle - It seems that 1st Lt. William C. Batton of the 15th WVI was related by marriage to Carlisle's wife, Elaine. William Batton's wife was her 2nd cousin, 3 times removed.

I met Carlisle for the first time just 2 days before the dinner - but I know him as well as anyone I have ever known in my life - - and he has been the best friend on the face of the earth!

Carlisle's birthday is in July, so I thought that while we were at the dinner, I would give him his birthday gift.... THE CIVIL WAR MEDAL OF 1st LT. WILLIAM C. BATTON.

I think Carlisle was pleasantly surprised!!!

At the conclusion of this melodrama, there were door prizes. KAREN HUCKO'S name was called and she wasn't there. I decided to give her prize to someone else rather than bringing it back to Louisiana - - and then on my way home from the airport on Monday, I stopped and got her the same prize, a mousepad. VERNON ANDERSON got the "Ohio Valley Memories" book; DOROTHY JEFFERSON, a WV map book; BILL SWIGER, a Tabasco Sauce Cookbook & Tabasco Sauce, which is made in Louisiana; BARB GODDARD, a Squire Isaac & Joseph F. Mayes marriages book (PA). I don't recall who got the other prizes which were a dozen pens, a mouse pad, another map book.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge CLARICE ELLER STANLEY, which I also forgot to do at the dinner. She was recognized and honored recently by the Yoho Family Association for her life-long work on the Yoho Family genealogy. This was a well-deserved honor and I would like to add my thanks to her for the genealogy work she has done and continues to do.

During the program, I wrote myself some notes on a napkin.... One thing I did NOT want to forget was to recognize the Marshall County Clerk, NORMA GLOVER SINE. BUT, regretfully, I did forget! Our esteemed County Clerk honored us with her presence and it was indeed a pleasure to meet her!

LONNIE KIGER, President of the Marshall County Historical Society was in attendance and his guest was JOE PARRIOTT, a well-known Moundsville historian.

I met WAGS President, NANCY ROE, of Glen Dale, for the first time, although Nancy & I have communicated via email for about a year. Our friendship has a depth, based on the many things we have in common, particularly our worldview. Nancy gave me a meaningful gift, as well as a letter and a poem, all of which I will treasure.

NILA CHADDOCK is another 'kindred spirit' and I enjoyed meeting her very much.

WAGS Recording Secretary, CHERYL McCOMBS, I also met for the first time at the dinner. As we conversed, I learned about people I had lost contact with many years ago. One was MARINA PENNYBACKER, an RN and good friend when I worked at RMH in the late 1960s. Marina lived in McMechen and died of cancer very recently. Cheryl is also the sister-in-law of ETTA McCOMBS, another good friend from my days at RMH.

FLORENCE CROW SCHAFFER gave me a copy of "History of the 314th Field Artillery" to put online. This is a World War I history and I am very pleased to have it. I will do it ASAP but it will take a long time.

PHYLLIS WALTERS, who is not yet online, came to the dinner after hearing about it from Florence. Particularly meaningful to me was that Phyllis knew my mother very well. My mother, who died 16 years ago at the age of 55, was like an angel and most people who met her never forgot her.

After the dinner, my uncle, LEMAR (JOHN) CLARKE, arrived. I saw him last month for the first time in more than 15 years and I am happy that we are communicating again. He was married to my dad's sister, RUTH CUNNINGHAM, until her death in 1986. He is now married to a beautiful woman named CASSIE. Uncle John tells me that his first girlfriend was DOROTHY SEDOSKY, who was a close friend of my Aunt Ruth.

ED YOHO and I laughed over the antics of our dogs....

Our Sunday morning breakfast at Young's was good and the best part was that we had a private room in the back. RED & CHARLOTTE HUNTER attended, although they had not been able to attend the dinner the night before. Red is related to me via our SAYRE line.

I enjoyed seeing EVERYONE and I apologize for not naming everyone here. As I think of things, I may add more. People came long distances to attend this event and I sincerely hope everyone had a good time.

As soon as I returned to Louisiana on Monday, I took my 3 year old computer to the Mail Boxes, Etc., and had them pack it and send it to the Martins Ferry Area Historical Society. They needed it and I know they will make good use of it.

This dinner will be a hard act to follow but we will probably try! Mr. Games is NOT in favor of a June date, however.

Love to All,
Linda Cunningham Fluharty