|
Anniversary reunions
A very common way for reunions to begin is to
observe and celebrate a milestone anniversary or birthday. Many
reunions actually start after such a special party when everyone
says they’d like to continue meeting like this!
70th anniversary highlights regular reunion
For years, the Haeberlin Family has held its reunions in June.
The most recent also celebrated the 70th wedding anniversary of
founders, Cecil (92) and Grace (88) Haeberlin. Their 11 children,
33 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren
come from several states combining reunion and vacation.
Area attractions were a draw for the reunion in
Kissimmee-St. Cloud, Florida. Special generational only gatherings
are highlights; on Friday younger generations met at Water Mania
for a picnic and swimming; Friday evening Cecil and Grace's children
met for pizza; Saturday evening Cecil and Grace's grandchildren
had their own party. Picnics and a worship service on Sunday drew
everyone together.
Before the reunion everyone was asked to write
something for Cecil and Grace. Tributes, all placed in a special
album, included poems, recollections, special memories, love notes
and pictures from small children.
Haeberlins reflect on the joys of family and memories
from past reunions.
- A family logo was created for a flag raised
at reunions.
- At one reunion each family wore t-shirts of
a different color with at least five generations of descendants
listed on the back.
- For another Cecil and Grace selected prizes
from their treasures for a family trivia contest.
- Before one reunion, names were drawn among
the children's generation with instructions to bring "an
item that was a family keepsake." A grandmother, for instance,
gave a brother who collected plates another to add to his collection.
Someone else fashioned an angel from a handkerchief.
- At another reunion everyone received a three-inch
heart ornament cut from wood taken from their grandparents'
house in Kentucky when it was torn down.
- One memorable reunion held in Kentucky included
a trek to family places (where Cecil and Grace met, dated and
where Cecil proposed). Being at these places as well as at a
family cemetery generated special memories and stories they'd
never heard before.
While attending family reunions creates a hardship and sacrifice
for some members Haeberlin family members would not miss one
for the world!
Reported by Vonda Haeberlin Ivester, St. Cloud
FL
Containing the surprise
Karen Sjullie, Herperia, California, shared her surprise 50th
wedding anniversary reunion for her parents. They had ten children
now scattered from North Carolina to Iowa and California. The
parents live in Lake Elsinore, California. Their anniversary was
just before a planned vacation to Iowa to visit children and relatives.
The California children had a small anniversary party for their
parents to throw them off the track. Meanwhile, other children
rented the Community Center in Mitchellville, Iowa, for the real
party. Sjullie made an anniversary quilt with photos of when were
married and a recent photo along with photos of all their children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bethel Family Reunion
The Bethel Family Reunion, started by Capitola Arabella Trumbo
in 1918, celebrated its 80th anniversary in Hamilton, Missouri.
Allman writes, "A family is more than people who are just
related to each other – it's people joined by shared memories
and hopes. Drawn together by mutual caring and concerns, a family
is special." |
Free Trial Issue
Send us your name and address to receive a sample copy of Reunions magazine.
 Reunions Forums
Share your planning advice and experiences with other reunion planners, attendees, newbies, and the editors of ReunionsMagazine in our Reunions forums!
|
