HOME FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY

LANCE CORPORAL MERLIN ALLEN IS HOME

Thursday, 7:30 AM.  63 degrees F, wind calm.  The sky is blue, the humidity has risen to 85% and the barometer is trending down currently at 29.96". presaging some unsettled weather in the near future, but I don't think it will spoil the parade or fireworks.  The Madeline Island Fourth of July Parade is at 10:30 AM, so we are catching the 9:00 AM ferry in order to get a good seat for all of us (Myself, Joan, Eva, Nick and Katie). The weather should be superb. It is a quintessential small town parade, full of fun with a touch of patriotism. In short, it feels like everyone's hometown parade, and we all want to be home for the 4th of July, if only in spirit.
   Lance Corporal Merlin Raye Allen is home again, after being missing in action in Vietnam  for forty seven years.  His remains were repatriated to Bayfield last week.  He was only twenty when he left.  He was greeted by 550 of his family, friends and neighbors, as well as two of his Marine  buddies who were shot down with him but  survived the helicopter crash in which he died.  58,282 American servicemen and women were killed in the Vietnam conflict, and 1,642 declared missing in action.  The last number can now be reduced by one.
   A memorial service was held at the high school, and a military ceremony at Little Sand Bay.  Internment was next to his parents in the old cemetery on York Island, which is now part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  Merle is home at last for the Fourth of July.

STARS AND STRIPES OF THE WAR OF 1812
(THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE NEVER ENDS)