May 2009

 

Home
November 2009
December 2009
January 2009
February 2009
April 2009
March 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009

 

THE HEAVILIN HERALD
MAY, 2009
 
     We are in Peculiar, MO visiting our son Matt and his family in Overland Park, KS. We have tried to do some sightseeing each time we are here, so we took the KC Mob tour.  We learned that Tom Pendergast, Harry Truman, Joan Crawford, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Al Capone, Walt Disney and J Edgar Hoover all have ties to the history of Kansas City.
   
    Thomas Joseph Pendergast gained control of the government in 1925.
Pendergast ruled from a simple, two-story yellow brick building. Messages marked with his red scrawl were used to secure all manner of favors. He was unquestionably corrupt and there were shootouts and beatings regularly on election days during his watch. Pendergast's companies like Ready-Mixed Concrete were awarded government contracts.

     Pendergast was able to place many of his associates to positions of authority. Pendergast handpicked Harry S. Truman, the 1934 candidate for U.S. Senate.  Vice President Truman attended Boss Tom’s funeral in 1945.
 
     We got to see the former site of Harry Truman’s haberdashery, as well as hear some amazing stories about KC history.

     While we were in KC we also got to visit the WWI Museum. The entire museum is underground and beautifully done.  The thing that struck us most was the number of men around the world who died in the war. Nine million men died! Yes, I said 9 million.  Because the US entered the war late, the death toll of American soldiers were about 116,000. While that number is huge since it represents so many families who were affected, yet the number is hard to compare to 9 million. 

     The other thing we noticed is how history seems to be repeating itself. Marilyn found a quote from Woodrow Wilson that definitely showed how America’s opinion is so repetitive.
  
      We attended a night of worship and praise at Legacy Christian Church in Lee’s Summit, MO.  We were especially drawn to the mandolin/guitar player. He is our grandson, Nate Heavilin. 

      We also had the privilege of driving to Warrensburg, MO to meet a young woman who had e-mailed Marilyn to thank her for writing Becoming A Woman of Honor. That book had an influence on Niki’s life. The book was given to Niki by her mother in 1992. And Praise the Lord, Niki turned out ‘good’ and just wanted to thank Marilyn. We loved meeting Niki and had such a wonderful time chatting with her.

      Our visit to KS has also included three visits to Olathe, KS for repairs on our ‘house.’ We are never excited about these visits, but we survived...much poorer financially, but we think all is well now.  Fortunately the repairs only included one night in a motel. That was definitely good news for us. We really miss being in our little house and we know we are getting older because we are dyed in the wool creatures of habit.

      We plan to head toward Michigan on the 11th of May, and then we will head toward Indianapolis to see Marilyn’s doctor and attend the Heavilin reunion. Then we will be on our way to New Jersey. Alright!
 
Blessings,
 

Glen and Marilyn Heavilin

Our tour guide, Johnny, pointing to the bullet hole in the wall of the Union
Station from the KC Massacre.

Boss Pendergast's former office

WWI Monument in KC

Woodrow Wilson quote at WWI Museum.

Our grandson, Nate

Marilyn and Niki

A midwest sunset

Home | November 2009 | December 2009 | January 2009 | February 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | May 2009 | June 2009 | July 2009 | August 2009 | September 2009 | October 2009

This page was last updated 5/03/2009 ©Copyright 2002-2009 Marilyn Willett Heavilin