THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250155
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH AND JENNIFER O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 149 lines
SILAS AND ELLA Parker Lynch, who raised 13 children on a farm in North Carolina in the late 1800s, probably never dreamed that a gathering of their descendants would ever be officially recognized by the federal government.
But when the Lynch family, now scattered in Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Florida and California, got together in Chesapeake last weekend, the event was designated an official World War II commemoration by the U.S. Department of Defense.
On the third weekend in August for the last 17 years, the Lynches' descendants have gotten together to greet new family members, re-tell family stories and spend time together.
Clara Lynch Jones of Chesapeake, a granddaughter, founded the family reunion tradition in 1978, when she realized the family was only getting together at funerals.
Each year family members focus on a different piece of family history, passing an understanding of family traditions on to their children, said Gloria Jeter, a member of the Connecticut branch of the family.
This year's gathering coincided with the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, so the family remembered relatives who had served in the war and on the homefront.
``Our family is like a large organized company. We have an executive committee, treasurer, secretary and many other officers and committees,'' said Qunitcoe Willie Lee. ``We just organize and pass out assignments and then do it.''
Jones and Delores and Norman Willoughby of Norfolk were the organizers, planners and hosts for this year's events.
Lee spearheaded the World War II commemoration. When she learned that the U.S. Defense Department had initiated a program to recognize organizations who hold World War II commemorations, she nominated the family.
``It's very important that we pass on to our children and to our grandchildren the roles that their family had in keeping our nation safe and free.'' said Jones. ``I believe that we have to know our roots to know where we are going. It's also a chance to say thank you.''
To be eligible for the recognition, the committee had to plan three commemorative events and submit them to the Department of Defense for approval.
``We made lists, collected family pictures, gathered memorabilia, mailed a survey to each family and planned a remembrance ceremony,'' said Lee. ``I think they (the Defense Department) were impressed with all our activity.''
On Friday night at the Holiday Inn Chesapeake about 75 Lynches arrived to begin the weekend's festivities.
Youngsters from Connecticut splashed their cousins from California in the pool. North Carolinians greeted their Maryland cousins. There were tears, handshakes and bear hugs as family members drifted from room to room to greet each other and exchange news.
The Saturday morning program started with a roll call, a welcome and a response by a family member from each state. The American flag and a World War II commemorative flag flanked large black-and-white pictures of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and historic photographs of prisoners of war, battles, invasions and liberation scenes from the war.
``We always have fun when we get together with all our cousins, but these are the real reasons we are celebrating being together,'' said Courtney Lynch, 18, as she browsed through a worn but treasured scrapbook.
She looked at a 1943 food coupon book and a ration book for shoes. Farewell post cards, letters from home and family pictures were cherished reminders of the war years.
On June 16, 1945, Virneta Powell, 20, wrote to the Bureau of Naval Personnel Office to volunteer as a WAVE. Her letter and the bureau's response were on display at the reunion. She was told she was a year too young to become a WAVE.
There's a picture of a handsome young man jauntily posing in his military uniform. A corner note reads ``Killed-in-action overseas - 1945.''
``This family has distinguished itself in that you have set aside a part of the reunion to reflect on that war and the role that members played,'' said Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward, the morning's guest speaker.
``You and your family members helped make this a great democracy. The struggle continues. Be resolved that you will continue to keep this family united,'' Ward charged them.
Lee presented the gathering with the Defense Department plaque designating the family an an official ``WWII Commemorative Community.'' Her son, Peter Lee, 22, spoke about family members who served in the war.
They honored Eugene Berry, Fred Douglas Jones and Fletcher W. Powell, who fought in France. They remembered in prayer Mayo Barnhill, Vernon Milton Dawson, James ``Tex'' Willie, Melvin Thomas Powell, Creston Brown and Capt. Ulysses Sully Jones. Jones, a graduate of Fort Belvoir's Officer Training School was one of the first African-American officers in the U.S. military.
After the morning program, a liberty pass granted them an afternoon for visiting, sightseeing and swimming before the evening banquet.
Warren Waters of Chapter 26 of the Disabled American Veterans of Chesapeake and former Mayor Sidney M. Oman were guests at the Saturday night program.
Oman, a former Marine and founder of Oman's Funeral Home, was invited to address the family members.
``Nothing is any more important than family,'' Oman reminded them.
Then he spoke of the war years and all the changes that have occurred socially, economically and with the family structure since the 1940s. Oman then paused for a moment to look at the picture of MacArthur and said that he was the last person ever to see the general. It was he who closed MacArthur's casket prior to his funeral in Norfolk.
William A. Johnson, retired assistant superintendent of Chesapeake Schools, was also a guest at the event. Johnson was assigned to MacArthur's headquarters, served in New Guinea and in the Philippines as a counter-intelligence agent.
Qunitcoe Lee awarded WWII campaign buttons supplied by the Defense Department to the veterans present or to their families. The honorable service lapel pin can be awarded to any veteran who served from September 1939 through December 1946. Waters, Oman and Johnson were also given pins.
On Sunday, the family attended Queen Street Baptist Church for services before heading to Jones' house for a picnic with the theme ``Come Sit Under the Apple Tree.''
``It's a hallelujah of a good time,'' said Annie Lynch, 87, the oldest attending Lynch. She had four generations of her family present.
``My grandfather would be rejoicing over our keeping the ties,'' said Ruth Moore, the oldest granddaughter, as aunts, cousins, grandchildren, sisters and in-laws gathered in the shade to continue their visit.
Many wore red shirts with family names such as Adams and Wilkens printed on the back.
Bobby Harrington of Greenville, N.C., snapped photos of his wife's relatives. He said he would study the pictures to learn his in-laws' names before next year's reunion.
Gloria Daniels visited with her nephew, Gary Spencer, for the first time in 20 years, while Betty Clark thought about next year's reunion in Philadelphia. She and Dr. Maggie L. Mallory will be hosts.
Peter Lee of Maryland, Anthony Nickols of North Carolina and Eddie Bryant of California played dominoes, while Dante Roberts, 13, and Danny Bryley, 11, of Los Angeles and Larry Knight, 8, of New Haven climbed trees, played in a row boat and searched for snakes and crabs.
``We're having fun,'' said Knight. ``We're each other's best friends when we're together.''
``It's just a most wonderful time,'' said Relia Virginia Dare Lynch of Chesapeake, the only surviving child of Silas and Ella Parker Lynch. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
[color cover photo]
Jerome L. Parham and Larry Knight relax and chat under the shade of
trees at the Lynch Family reunion.
Karen Bailey and her son Brynden enjoy breakfast during the
reunion.
Playing a game of dominoes are Dennis Bryant, Peter Lee, Eddie
Bryant and Anthony Nichols.
by CNB