Circus Conies & Cones

Keeping with the circus theme in my previous post, I thought it was high time you also met Curly the Clown. (He too has been a draft post for more than a year.)
This post also doubles as last week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgia post.

This sign is just rusting away alongside the Historic National Road (U.S. 40) in Seelyville, Indiana. I pass this iconic piece of Americana everyday on my way to work in Terre Haute.

When searching the Net to find out more about this once animated ice cream sign I found out that he is just like the original Dairy Queen sign. I’m not sure if the ice cream shop years ago in Seelyville purchased Curly the Clown from Dairy Queen, then painted their own business name on the sundae container … or maybe Circus Conies & Cones custom ordered the same sign as Dairy Queen from the same sign company.

Anywho … The original Dairy Queen version also waved and a bulb in the ice cream cone would light up at night.

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Word on the Street: Remembrances

Today is the traditional Memorial Day, first observed in 1868. The first Indianapolis 500 took place on May 30, 1911. And my dad took his first breath on May 30 in 1932.

In 1968, when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moving the national Memorial Day observance to the last Monday in May, the long holiday weekend and “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” played host to our most celebrated family tradition! Grandma’s fried chicken, croquet, and double the cake and ice cream because my dad’s brother was born on May 31st.

I took this photo after Mom and I decorated Dad’s grave in Croy’s Creek Cemetery that overlooks the Putnam/Clay county line road. My dad’s mom was a member of  Croy’s Creek Church and many of my ancestors are buried in the church’s cemetery.

Mom and I also visited Clearview Cemetery to honor my stepdad, a World War II Navy veteran. This sculpture is about the height of a lectern and overlooks State Road 340 (a former alignment of U.S. Highway 40 – “The Road that Built a Nation” – now designated the Historic National Road) just west of  Brazil in Clay County.

In memory of “The World’s Greatest Dad,” my stepfather and other national heroes before and after him, I dedicate this post to them and share with you the Word of hope that Jesus taught us to pray: