This Memorial Square comes to us from Rev. Kathy from Michigan to honor her father, Jim Bird, a WWII veteran. From Kathy: My dad was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI. He was drafted after he graduated from high school in 1944 and served two years. He went to Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri. Apparently, Dick Van Dyke was also stationed there at the same time. My dad went onto serve in the occupying forces in Italy and Greece. My dad taught social studies at West Maple Junior High School in the Birmingham (MI) School District for many years. Sam Raimi, the film director, was one of his students. When Sam made the movie “Oz the Great and Powerful,” he invited his favorite teachers to be in the movie. My dad and other teachers are in the credits. In terms of grief, I can tell you one of the hardest parts is some people’s callous response to my dad’s death of COVID-19. “Oh, well, he lived a good long life.” Another difficult thing is the overall societal attitude that it’s “just the flu.” So, if someone dies, it’s viewed as their weakness. I was blessed that he was in hospice where I could be with him in the end. Most family members don’t have that privilege. He was buried in his favorite cozy flannel shirt and his t-shirt from “Oz the Great and Powerful.”
