A vintage postcard bears new year greetings. (Postcard courtesy Marjorie and Calvin Dodge collection)
The year 2020 was a year I will always remember. First there was the loss of my wife of 59 years, Marjorie, in April. Funeral arrangements were altered by COVID-19. Sunday church services were called off in our area. Doctor’s appointments were canceled and rescheduled and canceled again.
Then we saw many businesses and stores limit the number of people allowed inside at one time. Bus and train service was shut down, as well as airplane service.
Hospitals limited the number of people who could enter at one time. Doctors told their people to wear a mask, keep a safe distance, and keep out of large crowds.
It was an election year across our country and half the people did not obey the safe rules. Our president did not step forward and tell the American people how dangerous this virus was.
We were slow to close our airports to overseas flights. We have now had over 325,000 people die from the virus. The rest is history.
I used to hear my grandmother tell of the so-called Spanish flu back in the World War I area. She would often tell us that many people lost their lives with the Spanish flu. We did not have modern medicine at that time.
We have come a long way with many types of vaccinations since then. Just this past week our nation has come out with two new vaccines against COVID-19.
Even this week our hospitals are almost full of COVID-19 cases and a new strain of the virus is coming from Great Britain. I fear that the first four months of 2021 are going to be full of these COVID-19 cases.
We must all unite and work together and look out for each other and all our older friends. With the help of God and the use of common sense, we will all get through this virus.
I want to take this time to thank everyone for all the phone calls and letters I have received this past year.
I received another letter from Mr. Kierstead, who said their fishing dragger was owned by “The Harris Ship Chandlery” and its owners were Vivian, Elery, and Bernard Harris. He also stated that he sailed on the Alice B. Daughty from Portland to the Gamage yard for repairs.
I checked records of vessels built by Harvey F. Gamage from 1924-1971 and did not find the dragger Alice B. Daughty.
I would also like to take the time to wish everyone at The Lincoln County News a happy new year and to wish the best of health to everyone. Please wear your mask, keep a safe distance, and wash your hands often.
