Thank you, Debra. I just turned 9 when Jerry was drafted. Being older than me by nearly ten years, he was out with friends, or working, a lot of the time, and so I really have very few memories. Just isolated ones. I wish I had known his personality more, but I was pretty young. Now, with my Mom, who is 86, I wish more than ever I had my brother. Once she is gone, I will pretty much be alone. I have a couple cousins, but we are not close, in distance or in family ties. I have one aunt left, my Mom's sister, and she is 88. I would give anything to have Jerry here now. But, there are many families who have their brothers, sons, fathers because of him. I have tried to find out more details about what happened when he died, but have run into dead ends. I only know what my Mom's failing memory has told me.
My favorite cousin, Cheryl, died of breast cancer in her 30’s. I have a pink seedling out at three friends gardens for testing that I would like to name for her. Not a giant leap forward, but a nice, long blooming 100% double diploid. She would have loved it. She always loved flowers. So, I know what it is to want to name a daylily for a loved one.
