COUNTY LIFE
Final resting place: Sailor buried near his family
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
With hope that lives within a mother’s heart, Ester Walters wrote a letter to her 24-year-old son, Bethel, on Dec. 13, 1941. It was less than a week since the attack on Pearl Harbor where his ship, the USS West Virginia had been moored on Battleship Row.
“We’ve spent seven long days and nights of dread fearing we would get a telegram from Washington, D.C., but we haven’t. We began to feel better… we know you’re real busy now,” wrote his mother.
After urging him to rest when he could and asking if he needed money for supplies, she wrote Homer was sending a Christmas card and a box of stationary; Ellen had a box of candy and two letters on their way and Lois was waiting to hear news to start her letter.
“As long as we don’t get a telegram we feel more certain, but we hope we don’t get it. Don’t worry about us back home, keep your nerves steady so you can do your part better. From all of us. Mama.”
That dreaded letter arrived a few short days later on Dec. 16, 1941 stating Bethel Elbert Walters was lost in the performance of his duties and service to his country. It continued if his remains were recovered they would be interred in a local cemetery. The note was signed by Admiral C.W. Nimitz, chief of the bureau of investigation.
The sailor was finally laid to rest with his family at his hometown cemetery this past Saturday. Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
It’s time to start working on your entry for the 2025 Jim Bowie Days Parade.
The theme is “God Bless Texas.” The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on June 25. Entry forms are available at jimbowiedays.com.
There are four categories for the parade: Youth organization or sports team, civic organization or church, riding club and business.
Kids are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade, and those with antique cars, trucks or tractors should give them a shine. For cowgirls and cowboys bring your horses to town and ride them on the route.
Prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
Coming in the June 19 Bowie News see the full calendar of events program for Jim Bowie Days and plan all your family’s activities during this western week of fun.
The Music in the Park Festival organizers welcome guests to enjoy a day under the beautiful oaks of Pelham Park to hear an array of music on June 14 in Bowie.
This free music festival is hosted by the Bowie Community center and R&K Sound Company.
Guests are invited to bring their lawn chairs and set up under the oak trees that fill the park near the amphitheater. This is the second year for this free festival as it expands to a full day.
Live acoustic music opens the free festival starting at 11:30 a.m. with Corben Wolsey, Blake Mangus, Tiffany Chandler, Sara White and Dillon Edwards. Other live music that day will include Bad Daddy Band and Bricktown Band. ZZ Texas, a ZZ Top tribute band, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Live music continues until 10 p.m.
There will be food truck vendors, bounce houses (fee), axe throwing and vendors. Guests are allowed to bring beer in a cooler, but no soda pop or similar drinks. There will be a $5 cooler fee.
Prior to the musical events there will be a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. at the Pelham Park Pavilion. Pre-race warm-up begins at 8:10 a.m. and the race starts at 8:30 a.m. There will be first-third place winners in each age category.
Entry fee is $35 and participants receive a T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Clear Choice Pregnancy Resource Center.
Those with questions may call Bonnie at 940-872-4861 or Kenny at 817-704-9847. In case of rain the event will be moved into the center.
Nocona Public Library is celebrating summer with lots of activities for kids.
On June 6 the Friends of the Library hosted a Rhyme Time story time. Marcia Williams read “Nothing Rhymes with Orange” by Adam Rex to the children. Lory Hunt helped the kids burn off some energy with a hopping rhyming activity.
Friends of the Library will be hosting its annual summer reading program in July. Check the Library Facebook page for details. Children can pick up reading logs at the library and start reading now.
The Library Advisory Board is having a new program this summer for children in grades 1-5. The Great Summer Adventure is at noon on Mondays in June and July.
Each adventure day begins with a story read by Lory Hunt and is always followed by a surprise. On June 9 the kids were surprised with Taylor Watson’s Petting Zoo. A blind cow named Helen, Pearl the white pony and a white goat named Bell all visited the library. The children had lots of fun petting the animals. Parents can sign children up for this program at the library.
Nocona Public Library is open Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(top photo) The Taylor Watson Petting Zoo was a big hit at last week’s summer reading program at Nocona Public Library. (Courtesy photo)
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