Opinion
Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, once said, “My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy.” Were Mr. Jefferson able to come to the Vineyard today, he might amend that assessment.
Harry and Rose, two dear friends, asked if they could come up this summer as houseguests because, as they put it, they have “heard so much about the Vineyard that we want to see it for ourselves.” I replied this way.
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Dear Harry and Rose,
Ann and I were thrilled to hear you wanted to visit us on the Vineyard this summer. Please do come, as we know you’ll love it as much as we do.
Editor’s Note: The following eulogy was delivered at the graveside service for Richard Lee in the West Tisbury cemetery on Tuesday. Mr. Lee, a well-known Island artist, died June 22 at the age of 79.
In 1933, Richard Eugene Lee was born on Jan. 15 in Pullman, Wash., on a farm. Later his parents moved the family into town and his grandparents helped raise him and his sister, Norma Jean.
Dear Rose and Harry:
I would have answered your letter sooner except that I have been in the hospital for the past three months here at the National Institute of Exotic Diseases in Washington getting shot full of needles and having rubber tubes run through me by heavy-handed but dedicated young medical researchers.
Last Sunday was a perfect beach day and my first expedition to Lucy Vincent Beach for the season. The stunning coastline was resplendent, and with July still 10 days away, only a small crowd was gathered at the beach. I was pleased to note that a cozy blanket of sand had been magically/meteoroligically restored, and getting past the eroded cliff line was not a major obstacle. I also noted that the dunes that had separated Chilmark Pond from the Atlantic ocean had been vanquished by Mother Nature, leaving the volleyball area an expansive, sandy stretch.
From the Vineyard Gazette editions of July 1963:
Edgartown’s annual Fourth of July celebration will begin on July 3 with the arrival of the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Steinaker in Edgartown harbor at 10 a.m. The welcoming committee will board her, and then Commander William McGovern will be piped on shore at the Edgartown Yacht Club about 11 a.m. by the Edgartown Boys’ Club Bugle and Drum Corps.