Family Stories

First Date

We have always been told that our Mother and Father's "first date" was at the Seminary Picnic Grove in Perryville, Missouri. It was not at the traditional time of the picnic, but a special gathering to honor the men and women who had returned from World War II.

During my research I discovered the existence of a booklet, housed at the State Historical Society of Missouri, entitled "Roster of the Men and Women of Perry County, Missouri, in World War II, issued on the Occasion of Welcome Home Celebration, Perryville, MO, Aug. 14, 1946.


"It contains an alphabetical list of Perry County's veterans, including a separate list of those who "died in service."  This 24-page booklet contains all the names that were available to the compilers of the men and women of Perry County, Missouri, who served in the armed forces of the United States in the Second World War. On page 5 there is a list of the 43 men who “died in service 1941-1945.” The branch of service, if the Navy or the Marine Corps, is indicated, if known.The compilers of the list and the publishers of the booklet are not known, except as "the committee." There is no other information about the Welcome Home Celebration" held at Perryville."

James J. Bohnert (on right)

I believe this Welcome Home Celebration mentioned was the one at which our parents had their first date - August 14, 1946. I spoke to Dad about it and he agrees that this was the celebration that he and mom went to together.  There is a picture of Dad on the courthouse square in Perryville in his naval uniform with two other Perryville sailors. I discussed this him and he agreed that this was probably on the occasion of the celebration. Apparently, all the returning veterans gathered and paraded down St. Joseph Street to the Seminary Picnic Grove. There would have been no other reason, in his recollection, that he would have been in uniform on the Courthouse Square.

After Dad passed away, I found a newspaper that he had saved that mentioned this celebration. You can see both the photo and the newspaper clipping by clicking on this link.