Everett Taylor: Taylor's Yarns

By EVERETT TAYLOR

Easter Sunday is in the spotlight today and the 49th Annual Azalea and Spring Flower Trail provides an appropriate, colorful local backdrop for the holy holiday.

People who manage to have a little spare time from their Easter activities should find plenty of spectacular blooms along the official Trail, as well as in a lot of places not shown on the recommended routes for viewing.

Early forecasts called for a generous helping of cold air to arrive over the weekend. Perhaps it is the "Easter Spell" so often anticipated every year about this time.

Even if the temperature might be lower than springtime norms, there should be plenty of azaleas and spring flowers to view, from a heated car if necessary.

The most certain thing about the weather in Texas this time of year, however, is that it is unpredictable. But the flowers usually prevail whatever Mother Nature dishes out.

A check of the 2008 Azalea Trail folder indicates that officials have anticipated that the period of March 27-30 will see the biggest crowds of visitors. A number of special events are scheduled during that stretch, including a Spring Art Show at the Woman's Building, 911 S. Broadway Ave.

The Tyler Azalea 10K annual race benefiting the Children's Village will be run Saturday.

Also on Saturday, an event gaining notoriety as quite an attraction itself will begin at 2 p.m. at Historic Oakwood Cemetery at the corner of Palace and Oakwood. It is the "Spirits of Oakwood" guided tours in which costumed "residents" of the cemetery tell visitors their stories as they walk around the grounds.

Oakwood Cemetery was established in 1849. During the War Between the States, 30,000 soldiers trained near Tyler; 231 died with measles, pneumonia and other diseases. To have a burial place for these soldiers, the city set aside a plot 300 feet square in the southeast corner of the original five acres for the soldiers to be buried. This plot became known as the "Soldiers' Plot."

Just a few of the famous names on Oakwood headstones are Richard Bennett Hubbard, Texas governor 1876-79; Stockton P. Donley, a member of the Texas Supreme Court and law partner of Gov. O.M. Roberts; Horace Chilton, the first U.S. senator from Tyler; and Capt. James P. Douglas, C.S.A., organizer of the Douglas Batter, a lawyer and senator who organized the Tyler Tap Railway and Kansas and Gulf Short Line.

Proceeds from the event go to the upkeep and continuing restoration of Oakwood Cemetery.

Each year sees rosters of World War II veterans groups dwindle, so those still active in holding annual reunions seek to locate any uncontacted potential members they might have missed.

The Aleutian Island WW2 veterans are such a group, and they are spreading the word of reunions to be held May 10-12 in Perryville, Mo., and Nov. 30-Dec. 2 in Lancaster, Pa.

This reunion will commemorate the 65th anniversary of American veterans who fought the Battle of Attu & Kiska, landing on Attu May 11, and Kiska Aug. 15, 1943. Although it has not received the attention of some other engagements of that war, Attu suffered the highest percentage of casualties, second only to Iwo Jima. It also was the only enemy-occupied U.S. land since the war of 1812.

A book, "The Thousand Mile War" by Brian Garfield, gives an account of this engagement.

An effort is being made to contact all surviving Aleutian Island veterans from all service branches, said Al King, a spokesman for the group.

Registration blanks and more information are available by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Al King, P.O. Box 19186, Plantation, Fla., 33318.

TAYLOR
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