DECORATION 2024

Old traditions: New Memories

Sitting mannerly through the sermon each Decoration Day was rewarding by playing in Walnut Creek afterward.

My Grandfather, Rome Mitchell, told of his struggles as a wiggly little boy to behave during church services. And he readily identified with the children who endured long “preaching.” Perhaps that is why he would often agree to take the kids to the creek and though everyone did the morning service, after lunch, when “business meeting” started, it was his escape, too.

Here are two of Morris Mitchell’s descendants splashing each other in Walnut Creek on May 26, 2024. These two are 8th generation. The ones pictured above are the 8th and 9th generations: Morris>Stephen>Albert Wesley>Albert Gerome (Rome)>Donald descendents.