Another day and another empty chair at the Lawrence County Historical Museum.

How many times have I walked into the museum and heard piano music that could not be beat?

Our friend, Jeanne Kinley, 98, passed away May 19 at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Ky. She was born in Portsmouth in 1912 and graduated from Ironton High School.

Her father surveyed the property for the high school and she told that her house was the only house on the block.

She played the piano at the age of 5 and was still giving lessons. What beautiful music came from the piano in the parlor at the museum and it will surely be missed by us all!

Memorial Day is here and it is a time for vacations. But first we must celebrate by having our well-known parade.

The horse leading the parade is meant as a memorial to the fallen soldier. The soldier’s boots are turned backward and this is symbolic. It means he will be leading his troops for the last time.

We know that General Logan declared May 30, 1868 to be Decoration Day, a day on which the Civil War dead were to be honored for their sacrifice.

We will be feeding the soldiers to help them rest and cool off. This will be at the end of the parade.

Today we honor all those who gave their lives in the line of duty on land, sea and in the air.

Historical fact: from Salute To A Hero:

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died, rather we should thank God such men lived.” — Gen. George S. Patton

Naomi Deer, trustee, LCHS