[S.D. Kelsey--home movies] Reel 5

Date1947

OtherCan notes: " 1) Graduation Parade 2) Turtle in yard qtrs. W.P. 3) South Apartments 4) Delafield Summer 1947 5) Jim Wilcox - Anne Marie 6) Lois McGregor 7) Phil Flo + Aunt Kate 8) Stevie's 5th birthday 9)Julie[?] Wallers[?] birthday 10) Family picture (Marge, Phil[?] Dad, Mother 11) Trophy Point - Bill + Julsie [?] + Mari [?] 12) Lake Mahopac summer 1947 13) Mari + Steve on horseback 14) Stewart Field- Storm King W.P. by air - Niagara Falls"

Anecdotal Comments & ReflectionsREEL FIVE 1947 West Point Military Academy graduation ceremonies, 1947. The precision, grandeur and military discipline is never more on display than at a West Point graduation ceremony. It is always followed by flung hats into the air and boisterous cheering as the new 2nd Lieutenants celebrate their victory. We were quartered at South Apartments, Delofield, West Point in 1947. Stevie was four and I was two. Seen, is a pet turtle with a drawing on his shell walking through the lawn, unkempt as it is, in the spring of 1947. During the summer we would frolic in Lake MAHOPAC at West Point, in New York state. The next scenes are more aerial views of the Hudson River Valley and West Point Military Academy. It is such a majestic setting for such a majestic school that everything blends together and there is harmony and struggle and hope. Aunt Flo, Uncle Phil and Aunt Kate are seen in this clip. Uncle Phil was a first cousin of Mother's, his mother being Carrie Tracy Sehl, Grandma Fee's sister. The family lives in Wethersfield, Connecticut and were very important to Stevie during our time in Europe while he stayed in New Hampshire attending private school at Saint Paul's. Together with the Waller's they all gave Stevie a family to depend on during times of stress or triumphant or holidays. Uncle Phil was a very well established dentist, a graduate of Harvard; he met his wife-to-be on an airplane, as she was a stewardess. They have three children. And, there is Stevie and I playing cowboy's and Indians once more. Stevie's 5th birthday is shown where all are enjoying themselves immensely. Birthday parties were always celebrated and Mother would make a white cake with buttercream, vanilla frosting. It was very good. Aunt Marj's husband, Bill Waller, is seen next, along with their eldest son Jack, Grandma and Grandpa Fee, Daddy and Mother. Jack and I are seen at the foot of a statue. The next scene is one of Mother, myself, and Stevie. Here I am dancing ballet. I loved to dance but I am not graceful so nothing ever came of it. I did enjoy my rocking horse and am seen jumping, quite zealously, on it. I always loved to ride a horse. 78rpm records are now obsolete but they were the only way you could listen to recorded music back in the day and Stevie is seen here playing one of them. He always had a passionate love for music, especially pop. He was a collector of pop and classical music and made tapes of his favorites, which I have. This scene is back at Lake MAHOPAC with Daddy. Seen next are Stevie and myself riding horses at the age of five and three respectively. We all loved horses and learned at this young age to not be afraid and to ride. This last scene is another aerial shot of West Point and New York state, including the magnificent Niagara Falls. Daddy took these shots while flying solo over the area. He knew no fear.