Theodore Redlein - Forest Lawn

Many times I have walked by the cenotaph (person buried elswhere) erected in Forest Lawn in memory of Theodore Redlein. It is close to a roadway, so I was sure that he would get a flag on Memorial Day, but I bought a small one, just in case. Nope, so I stuck it in the ground, thinking maybe I should have spent a few more quarters on the next size up...

The boy scouts and other volunteers put in place hundreds of flags in the more traditional burial area for those who have served, so maybe this being on the other side of the expanse is why it wasn't on a list.  Wouldn't have been the only one. Maybe because he's actually buried in Belgium. At any rate, it was just something I felt a need to do.  Later on I went by and the urns had been filled with geraniums!

Again, don't know if this was another walker/jogger, family, or there are arrangements with the cemetery to take care of this. However it worked out, he now is definitely remembered! Later, I went to the store to pick up a larger flag.

I also found some of his background online, including this:

Thank you for your service Lt. Redlein, and for giving your life....

1812 Mound in the Meadow 2012

The War of 1812 is all the rage now, as well it should be. The war started 200 years ago this week and Western New York was a large part of it. As I wrote last year, there are 300 soldiers from that war buried in the middle of Ring Road, Delaware Park....about where hole #4 of the golf course is.

Last year Steve Cichon lead a processional out there to honor the soldiers buried in the Mound in the Meadow.  This year he spearheaded an additional memorial which ended up being placed outside the Zoo as it borders on the Park (the now closed gate #7, I think).

Good spot, really. As soon as you see it, about face, and there's the original boulder in the near distance.

After the ceremony dedicating the marker, we had flags to put around it, but it didn't seem right. So I asked Steve if we were allowed to go out to the monument, and he didn't see why not, seeing as it's a public park, Memorial Day, and those are war dead out there. That viewpoint may not have been universally shared (especially by golfers and their groundskeepers), but off we went. Started as a trickle, and turned into a steady stream.

The War of 1812 reenactors marched out too. Would have been even cooler if a fog had swirled in, but, as it were, they were impressive crossing the greens, and paying tribute.

Next year we should have a 21 gun salute, not that I know the proper procedure for 200 years after the fact. All the runners/walkers/joggers might hit the dirt too.  Maybe a few fireworks instead :)

The Next Day

The plane landed two blocks from my mom's house in Clarence Center. She's okay, and we're both grateful for all those who made contact (and those who thought about it). As I was talking to her last night on the telephone a plane went over. I could almost feel her cringe as she remarked on it.

Airplanes are constantly overhead. So much so that most times no one paid much attention, like it was part of the background noise. It'll be a long time before the people of Clarence Center feel complacent again.

The loss of a friend and neighbor hits home even more so than the crash itself. The Wielinski family was well regarded, not only in Clarence Center but also in the Cincinnati area that they previously called home.

Doug was a Vietnam war veteran, a chemist, a former marathon runner, a sports memorabilia collector/seller; also a husband, father, neighbor, and friend to many.

One neighbor will forever remember the generosity of the Wielinski family. At one time her garage needed painting but, being on a fixed income, she couldn't afford to have it taken care of in the immediate future. She became a bit stressed about it. No problem. Doug & Karen reached into their own good natures, bought the paint, and proceeded to paint the garage themselves. Great neighbors. The best.

Now a pile of rubble sits where a loving family once resided. The memories will live on.

Rest in peace.

(picture is a screen shot from Google Earth of 6038 Long Street, scene of crash)

(moving photo galleries Rochester Democrat & Chronicle; some pictures may bring tears to the eyes of even the detached from the immediacy)

Clarence Teacher - In Memory of Herbert Bosch

Long time Clarence school teacher Herbert Bosch passed away on October 2, 2008. I never had him for English, but Budd Bailey ('73) recalls him as the teacher that cured him of any interest in reading Shakespeare after junior year elective. However he's willing to concede that Shakespeare was more to blame for that than Mr. Bosch.

The '69 Saga had a two page photo spread in appreciation of Mr. Bosch, and I borrowed a few of the pictures to share here (photo from later years appeared in the News).

From the Buffalo News:

May 16, 1923 — Oct. 2, 2008

Herbert A. Bosch, a retired Clarence High School English teacher, died Oct. 2 in Mercy Hospital. He was 85.

Born in Port Jervis, the Elma resident came to Buffalo with his family in the late 1920s. He attended School 54 and Fosdick- Masten Park High School.

A Navy veteran, Mr. Bosch served on destroyer escorts in the Pacific, Mediterranean and Atlantic theaters during World War II. After the war, he received his bachelor’s degree in education from Wagner College and his master’s degree in education from the University of Buffalo.

Before retiring in 1984, he taught for 31 years, starting at Cattaraugus and Amherst Central high schools. His last 25 years as a full-time teacher were at Clarence High, where he was known for singing “The Night Before Christmas” before the annual holiday break and once narrating a school band performance of “Peter and the Wolf” in Kleinhans Music Hall.

After retiring, he was a substitute teacher at Iroquois Central High School for many years. A lover of history and nature, he volunteered at Tifft and Beaver Meadow nature preserves and was president of the Elma Library board.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Carol Kenline Bosch; five sons, Peter, Stephen, Jonathan, David and Daniel; two daughters, Kathy (Sister Ambrosia) and Janey; a brother, Paul; and a sister, Ruth Becker.

A memorial service will be at 3 p. m. Oct. 25 in St. John’s Lutheran Church on Woodward Road in Elma.

BOSCH - Herbert A. October 2, 2008. Beloved husband of 61 years of Carol (nee Kenline) Bosch; father of Peter (Laurie), Stephen, Jonathan, Kathy (Sister Amvrosia), David (Kathy), Daniel (Melanie) and Janey; grandfather of 19; Opa of 15. Mr. Bosch donated his body to UB. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Buffalo, Inc. or Tifft Nature Preserve. Memorial service to be held October 25th at 3 PM in St. Johns Lutheran Church, Woodard Rd., Elma.

(View/Sign Guest Book)

The Foot of Main - A Tour Along the Waterfront

It used to be that the foot of Main Street was where some of our parents threatened we'd end up, living in a cardboard box, if we didn't get our act together. Now it's becoming quite the place to be, with the biggest aspects yet to come. Well, that's if "new" can beat out nature and history.

It's hard to tell that many places you see on the news are all linked together, if you're not familiar with the area anymore. Here's an easy primer:

Start out by Memorial Auditorium (while it's still there), which is a parking lot away from HSBC Arena, home of the Buffalo Sabres. Everyone knows where that is, right?

If you go over to the area immediately adjacent to the Arena, you'll be roaming through the historic Cobblestone District. Heading to the west instead you can walk straight through to the lookout tower at Erie Basin Marina, while passing through many an attraction.

Immediately you'll come upon the Commercial Slip, the Erie Canal terminus that opened to the public last weekend. There are walkways,bridges, and signs that direct your attention to the historical moments and people connected with the area. While some chronically dissatisfied people have decried it as garish, I like it, as do the many other people I observed. Also featured are the excavated ruins of the Steamship Hotel.

A few steps over is the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. There you will be able to board ships and a submarine (for a small fee), and gaze upon fighter planes. This is where many of the monuments commemorating both the war dead and everyone who served in the military are located. Don't forget to check out the museum. I want to mention also that this park seems to have undergone many name changes. The term "Servicemen's" was also in there at one time. It's the same place.

A short walk along the water will bring you to the Erie Basin Marina. This is the home of the ships Miss Buffalo I & II, but there is more! Shanghai Red's (formerly Crawdaddy's) is across the way, but we prefer to grab some food at The Hatch. You can sit on the outdoor patio and watch the boats and view the Buffalo Lighthouse across the way, before ambling onwards.

A note of caution here - there are signs warning patrons to guard the food from aggressive sea gulls. These are not put up to be cute. I had a hot dog swiped from a tray as I was carrying it out a few years ago. Then the bird sat a few feet away and tried to eat it. I grabbed it back and threw it out. If I can't eat it, neither can the gull (aka the common tern).

Incidentally, the tree sculptures are once again on display along the roadway, across from The Hatch. The identity of the "Mystery Man' turned out to be Tim Rusert of South Buffalo, the political talk show host. Also new is Dewitt Clinton, seen pouring water into the Erie Canal.

After walking by the seawall for a short spell you will come upon the newly opened Buffalo Beach. It's not for swimming (riptides and all), but for relaxing. Last September I took a picture of a family enjoying a patch of sand that they reached by climbing down the rocks. Now there's a sandy walkway going down to the enlarged area (pictured). It's kind of neat :)

Across from the beach is the lookout tower where you can gaze out across where Lake Erie and the Niagara River meet, and across the way to Canada. Also back to where you left your car. Of course, after visiting the Military Park you can always move the vehicle into the Marina, since there's plenty of parking. But walk - it's not that far!

Last weekend I went down there and took my camera. Everything has been loaded into the re-titled web album "Erie Basin Marina, the Commercial Slip, and the Naval and Military Park". However, it should be noted that I merely take pictures. The guy at Buffalo T-Shirts takes photographs. If you check out his blog, you'll more photos of the foot of Main, along with other places.

Visit the foot of Main Street where the Niagara River and Lake Erie meet - you'll be glad you did!