Hyla E. Athey Watson, My Mom

Hyla E. (Athey Forbragd) Watson

1924 - 2010

On Nov. 5th my mom lost her battle with breast cancer. She'd have been 86 at the end of the month. She was one of the most independent and free spirited people I've ever known as well as practically fearless. She was raised in an age where women didn't go to college or join the military and yet she did both. While in high school she earned a full scholarship to the College of Wooster
http://www.wooster.edu/    and when WWII broke out she enlisted in the Coast Guard. She was always very proud of both of these accomplishments. She felt that there was no greater gift than service to one's country.

She was also extremely proud of her heritage. It is because of her that I have so much information about my maternal lineage - including documents about ancestors who colonized America in the 1600's, ancestors who received land grants and settled Ohio after the Revolutionary War, and ancestors who fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Mom, like my grandmother, Elizabeth Athey, was a member of the Eastern Star. My grandfather, Clifton Athey, was a 32nd degree Mason. Mom was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She raised three children as well as a grandson and was never one to shirk responsibility. She believed in education for those who truly wanted it, but didn't think that it should be forced on everyone.

Because of her, I developed a love for both books and history and I'll be forever grateful that she opened this world to me. My adult life has been greatly influenced by her ideas and social attitudes and I can never thank her enough for what she gave me.

She was raised in the Presbyterian church and had a strong relationship with Christ. She wasn't afraid of death, but actually looked forward to meeting her Lord. I know He met her at the Gates of Heaven and she's with Him now.

Love you, Mom.

Diana

We Remember

Today is Veteran's Day and my husband - a veteran during the Vietnam War is at work. At his company no one gets off on Veteran's Day off.

James Driver, my father-in-law was a Medic at Normandy on D Day and then served in the European Theatre. He passed away a few years ago and he still had pieces of shrapnel in his body.

My father, Dwayne Ellsworth Forbragd, served in the Pacific. When he was sixteen he hitchhiked from Clark, South Dakota to San Diego and tried to enlist into the Navy only to be sent home because he was underage. Six months later, he did it again and this time the Navy took him. He too, was injured in WWII. When the war ended, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was involved in the testing at Bikini Island. That atomic test left a horrible impression on him and most of his life he suffered from night terrors and cold sweats. He was Career Air Force - part of the Strategic Air Command and took us to places like Ankara, Turkey and Tokyo, Japan.

My mother, Hyla E. Athey, was a student at Wooster, a private college in Ohio, when WWII broke out. She, too, heard the call and joined the Coast Guard. Her job wasn't to fight, her job was to make travel arrangements for the members of the military. She and my dad met in Long Beach, California in 1944. I've seen the bench where he proposed to her.

Both my father and my father-in-law have passed away. My mother is still alive and I hope she understands how much I appreciate her service and the service of all the other men and women in the military.

So, today I'm thinking of all the people in our military who have given so much in the past and the brave men and women who are giving of themselves today in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'm awed and humbled by your service.

Thank you!!

Diana