Saturday, May 28, 2011

Day of Remembrance

“Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

                                                  by Frances Scott Key

Mr. Key wrote his famous poem in 1814. It wasn't until 1931 that it became our national anthem. The above is the last line of the fourth verse. The history and lyrics are found here: http://www.star-spangled-banner.info 

As you remember your family's heroes this Memorial Day weekend, I am proud to share my family memory with you.

Thomas Paslay, at age seventeen, enlisted in the army in the Revolutionary War in February 1779. He was defending Charleston SC when it fell to the British in 1780. Taken as a prisoner to the West Indies, Thomas remained there for five years. When he returned home to the colonies, he married Winnifred and moved to Kentucky where they had twelve children and he became a pastor.

Thomas must have been a brave young man to endure five long years as a war prisoner. I am personally thankful he did because Thomas became my husband's great, great, great, great grandfather.

I'm sure Thomas would be proud to know more than two hundred years later he would have a son retired First Class from U. S. Navy Reserves and another son retired as Security Forces Manager, rank Chief Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. I am extremely proud of my husband and my son serving this great country and defending our freedoms.

God bless them and God bless America!

Juanita Turner Paslay
folks7777@gmail.com