Page 114 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

SNOW

We also had lots of visitors, in the winter, Grandma and
Grandpa Zimmerman, Grandpa Williams, Aunts and Uncles.
In 1941 both Mom’s and Pop’s parents visited.

Here is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman, and
Grandpa Williams in the White House. Their coats were very
warm, and heavy, hers is a natural fur, beaver, his wool.
Maybe because of his size Grandpa Williams didn’t need one.

I was taken everywhere. If it was to the Zoo, I’d go. Parades
were a specialty of Mom’s. Whenever a celebrity came to
Washington and there was a parade; she would go and I would
get to go with her. Rain or Snow, we went.

The winter had lots of parades. Each time a President was
inaugurated, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, it was January.
General MacArthur when he was called home by Truman, or
President Haili Salassi, from Ethiopia. I’d be on Pennsylvania
avenue with a flag to wave and cheer them on.
Parades had a lot in common. During my parade career they
always had brass marching bands, many were from the
services, few from schools. Always Army and Navy groups
with rifles marching in unison. Heavy armed vehicles, tanks,
and semi’s pulling cannons. Overhead, in formation were the
bombers, B-24’s and B-29’s. Usually only one dignitary, a new
President, or a visiting head of a country was necessary for a
parade.

In my early years until I was four years old or so, Mom had a
harness for me. That worked pretty well. It had a couple of

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